THE CUSTOMERS ARE READY FOR GALAXY NOTE 7 BUT IS SAMSUNG SET?

This is a must read for you in case you are planning to replace your existing smartphone with Galaxy Note 7. Samsung is having a tough time with its latest launch, Galaxy Note 7, which is plagued with battery issues. Samsung has already acknowledged this problem and is now urging users to stop using the smartphone. Samsung has also delayed selling the Galaxy Note 7′s sale in India.

As soon as the Galaxy Note 7 began floating in the market, reports started emerging, claiming that the phablet caught fire and exploded while charging. Samsung has equipped a 3,500mAh battery with fast charging and wireless fast charging on the phablet. These batteries are manufactured by suppliers — ATL and Samsung’s own affiliate SDI. After investigation, Samsung has acknowledged the issue in SDI made batteries. They are calling it a rare manufacturing error- malfunction of the separators of anode and cathode due to which the two came into contact, hereby leading to overheating.

How is Samsung trying to tackle the issue?

Samsung is undertaking an internal inspection of its suppliers to identify the faulty handsets and replace them with safe ones. Samsung has also urged customers to stop using the Galaxy Note 7 and return them to avoid further damage. Samsung is also offering users to exchange the Galaxy Note 7 with other Samsung smartphones. In India, Samsung has delayed the sale of the Galaxy Note 7, which was supposed to start from November 2.

How to check if your Galaxy Note 7 is safe?

When buying the Galaxy Note 7, you can check the label on the retail box packaging. The new phones without the faulty batteries will come with clear identification on the box with a small black square and blue letter ‘S.’ You can find this besides the bar code label with the white sticker.

As the Galaxy Note 7 has high tendency to catch fire, which also risks the aircraft, US-based airline safety regulator Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has urged passengers to not carry the phablet onboard. India’s aviation regulator, DGCA, has also prohibited users from turning on or charging the phablet in the aircraft. The notice comes despite the fact that it has not officially gone on sale in India, yet. Also, the phablet is not allowed to be kept in the check-in baggage. Other international airlines such as Singapore Airlines, Pakistan International Airlines, Virgin and Quantas among are also notifying passengers about the same.

What about India?

The issue with the Galaxy Note 7 took place when Samsung had just started taking pre-orders. It was supposed to go on sale in India last week, but due to the battery fiasco, Samsung is not selling the phone yet. However, Samsung will compensate by offering customer with free Gear VR headset, which is otherwise priced at Rs 7,290. The company will also be offering Oculus content voucher worth $50 (approximately Rs 3,350), when the phablet starts shipping.

What’s next for Samsung?

Even with the new batch of devices with new battery, Samsung is likely to have tough time convincing users to buy the phablet. The whole fiasco is also likely to hit Samsung’s sales projections, which may also have a huge financial impact. However, the bigger task for Samsung seems to be how it can limit the damage that has already dented the brand image. Will customers still be willing to buy the Galaxy Note 7 that comes with new battery is something remains to be seen.